The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-05-26

uu oellcNc IL progresses Ill HOIdlS
as will as in material things. Ibelieye
that, withrelapses and shortcomings,
on the whole the tendency is upward
and forward and that each gener-
alton is little improvement on its
predecessor, Ifnot, then our civil
lzation is a failure for it is dead when
it ceases to move forward. But the
traveller who is in too great haste to
enquire and make sure of the way will
often be compelled to turn back, and
with much labor regain the right
path So with nations. They get di-
verted from the true highways of civ
llization in the eager pursuit of some
tempting object, and have to retrace
their steps, often through revolution
and blood, and never without the
heavy penalties which in the moral
economy of the world are executed for
NlOllS OOlHS'
Now increase of wealth, intelligence
and power, bring with them increased
duties and responsibilities. Commen-
surate with these should increase our
patriotism, our devotion to the cardi-
nal principles of free government, and
all the virtues which uphold a state and
elevate society, Are we doing this?
Have we as much devotion to political
principle, and are we as unselfsh in
the public service as the generation
which established our government?
Are we as much better and wiser than
ourfathers as we are richer than they
were? 1t has become a fashion of re-
cent days to throw reproach upon
that generation of Southern men Just
preceding ours, on which devolved
the difficult and inyidious task of con-
STRUNG the constitution which formed
our government and interpreting the
meaning OF its terms and clauses.
1t is not too much to say that even
greater ability was required for the
proper discharge OF this duty than for
the original draft of the instrument it.
self, though Of a some what di fferent
order it may be.
But this ability was forthcoming,
and by far the greater part of it from
the South, AS | read the history OF
the political institutions of the United
States, no greater service has ever been
performed for the prosperity and hon
or and true glory Of our country than
was rendered by the great Southern
Statesmen of the past generation who
strove so long with mighty logic and
tireless industry, for that interpreta-
tion of the great charter which favor
ed the sacred principle of local self
government, and brought the law-giv-
er and the law administrator most di-
rectly into contact with tie people tc
whom they were alone respon 9
Following their great leaders the peo.
pie OF the South devoted themselves
unselfshly to the study and OBJ
servance Of the principals of their gov
ernment, and refused to seek to enrich
themselves at the expense of theil
| country's best interest. 1t will not bt
} denied that the chief part of the ter
: ritoral growth, prosperity, and truc
. glory of the United States is due tC
) Southern Craftsmanship and adher
ence to principle; but the South itsel
: remained comparatively poor. Th
g North took precisely the opposit,
t course From the first it went in fo
b the dollar. 1t seemed to regard tn
/ entire Federal Government as con
d trivance to enable one portion of th
}. country to make money out Of th
l. other. A question of constitutions
t construction was decided by the cour
= ter question of profit and loss. Al
It preparations Of money from the Fede
y al Treasury were obtained for ever
II conceivable purpose, and were nevC
refused because they violated the cor
l. stitution. They got rich apace. The
J. heaped money upon money ). they fiji
:, ed their land by immigration; the
ii built towns ard cities; they did an
it thing to increase their wealth. Meal
d. while, they have neglected sadly ii
is muniments and traditions OF constit
S tional liberty Riot, anarchy, reli
e. ious heresy, and general decay
AZ public and private morality have con
IL to them, as the price Of sudden richie
i'd 1t has been an ver-hasty and unns
le ural growth, which is always minnie
IS to prosperity.
n Beholding this exotic prosperit
r and seeing much of their cherish
n political theories crushed by the ir
of hand Of war, the people Of the Sou
he have OF late years begun to emula
'e- the example OF their Northern bret
le- ren, and put money in their purs
b. This is all well enough, provided
ne do not make the same mistake viii
of they have made and run into the sal
"a extreme-worship of money, to t
he exclusion of the higher and !
ur bier things. very much fear it v
di- be so. Already there is q contemI